Brushing machine



Dec. 10, 1957 A. A. MEDER, JR, EI'AL 2,815,554

BRUSHING MACHINE Filed larch 23, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 A. A. MEDERV, JR., ETAL 2,815,654

- Dec. 10, 1957 BRUSHING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 23, 1956 Dec. 10, 1957 A. A. MEDER, JR., ETAL 2,815,654

' BRUSHING MACHINE Filed March 25, 1956 a Sheets-Sheet s BRUSHING MACHINE Arthur A. Meder, Jr., Jarrettown, and Herbert T. Lewis, Jr., Lafayette Hill, Pa., assignors to Proctor & Schwartz, Inc., Philadelphia, Pa, a corporation of Pennsylvania Application March 23, 1956, Serial N 0. 573,386

2 Claims. (Cl. 69-42) The present invention relates to machines for cleaning pliable sheet-like material and has particular application to brushing the dust from leather skins and the like.

A typical machine used in the industry for brushing leather is the box brush which is a manually operated device having two opposed brushes rotating in opposite directions. The leather is dropped vertically into the bight of the brushes and is pulled downward. There is no mechanism involved for holding back or controlling the leather, which is entirely done by the operator. Since it is not possible to hold back the leather when the trailing portion is being brushed, the operation is done in two stages so that approximately one half of the leather is brushed at one time. The leather is then pulled out of the machine, reversed, and the other half of the leather is brushed. This machine involves low production rate and, therefore, a high labor cost.

Another apparatus for dusting leather consists of a two-stage machine, which in the first stage, brushes one surface of the leather, and in the second stage, brushes the reverse surface. In the first stage of the machine, the leather is advanced by an endless conveyor, it being held in place thereon by pinch rolls. In the second stage, the leather is advanced between a roller and a brush. To operate satisfactorily, the leather must be manually guided through the machine and it is necessary for the operator to hold back the leather to prevent the brushes from kicking the leather through the machine without brushing it. This mechanism is satisfactory for cleaning the body portion of the leather, but the trailing ends of the leather skins cannot be satisfactorily brushed. The use of conventional pinch rolls does not overcome this difiiculty since it is impossible to engage the leather immediately adjacent the brushes. Since, in the first stage, the brushes are backed against the conveyor apron, and in the second stage against a roller, the

brushing action in the two stages is not identical, and the cleansing of the two surfaces of the leather is not uniform. Another apparatus is available which has attempted to overcome this latter effect by directing the leather through the nip of counter-rotating dusting brushes. The guiding of the leather through this type of machine is even more unsatisfactory than the above-described machine because there is no control of the leather at the point where the brushing occurs.

Another machine eliminates the disadvantages of brushes by cleaning the leather by air streams. In this type of machine, the leather is advanced by conveyors which expose one side of the leather to a first air nozzle, and the opposite side to a second air nozzle. This machine is quite expensive and considerable problems are encountered in maintenance due to dustor dirt-particles lodging in and clogging the nozzles. When this occurs, the dusting is not wholly effective and a considerable amount of dust is retained in the leather. In addition, the nozzles are disposed closely adjacent the leather, and any foreign particles projecting from the nozzles will mark the leather.

atent It has also been proposed to design a brushing machine in which the leather is guided between dusting brushes by means of guide bars extending longitudinally of the direction of travel of the leather through the machine. Although this proposal limits to a substantial degree the whipping or kicking of the leather past the brushes, the guides reduce the efficiency of the brushing action and have a tendency to leave longitudinal guide marks on the leather. This is more pronounced when handling thick leathers, and the guiding action is less efficient when handling thin leathers.

The present invention contemplates leather brushing apparatus which effectively controls the travel of the leather through the machine without the use of guides, high pressure air nozzles, or the like. The dusting is accomplished by brushes, and the dust is carried away from the leather by a high velocity air current set up by an exhaust system. The machine automatically feeds the leather, but allows the operator to hold back on the skin with one hand, for example, when it is desired to straighten out a folded-over shank or the like.

With the foregoing in mind, a primary object of the present invention is to provide a novel leather brushing machine which is of simple construction and is easy to operate and maintain.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide apparatus which effectively controls the travel of the leather through the machine, without the use of guides and the like.

The invention also contemplates novel apparatus which does not require adjustment for different grades of leather, but is readily adjustable to compensate for wear of the brushes.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a machine which effectively carries away the dust removed from the leather without clogging the working mechanism of the machine and without redepositing dust on the cleaned leather.

All of the objects and the various features and details of the construction and operation of the invention are more fully set forth hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the apparatus showing the external exhaust system at a substantially reduced scale;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a right hand side elevational view of the apparatus;

Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are sectional views taken respectively on the lines 4-4, 55, and 6-6 of Fig. 2; and,

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic representation similar to Fig. 4 of a modified apparatus made in accordance with the present invention.

The present invention provides a leather brushing machine having feed rolls for the leather arranged in a series, the adjacent rolls of the series being in tractive engagement whereby the leather is carried by said rolls in an S-shaped or tortuous path. This arrangement exposes one surface of the leather as it passes over selected rolls and exposes the other face of the leather as it passes over each roll adjacent said selected rolls. Means is provided to brush each of the surfaces of the leather as it is exposed during its travel over the feed rolls, and an exhaust system is provided to carry away the dust removed from the opposed surfaces of the leather by the brushes.

Referring now to the drawing, the illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises a housing 10 having a feed table 11 mounted thereon for introducing the leather into the machine. The leather travels through the machine and is discharged therefrom by a delivery conveyor 32. The leather is carried through the housing from the feed table 11 to the delivery conveyor 12 (see Fig. 4) by a. first feed roll 13, a second feed roll 14, and a third feed roll 15, each having a resilient friction covering. The first and third feed rolls may be grip tape covered, and the second feed roll 14 may be rubber sheathed as indicated at 16. The feed rolls are mounted in spaced relation to the adjacent feed rolls so that the rolls direct the leather in the S-shaped or tortuous path shown in Fig. 4. The tortuous path insures driving engagement of the leather with the feed rolls. Suitable roll means, in the present instance an idler feed brush 18, is mounted adjacent the first feed roll 13 in engagement therewith to firmly engage the leather against the surface of the first feed roll. The idler brush 18 is free for vertical movement so that the weight of the brush biases it into engagement with the roll 13.

As the leather passes around the roll 13, it is brushed by a first duster brush 21 which removes the dust from the upper surface of the hide. From the brush 21, the leather passes between the first and second feed rolls 13 and 14 respectively, and as it passes around the second feed roll 14, a second duster brush 22 removes the dust from the under surface of the leather. The leather then passes between the second and third feed rolls 14 and 15 respectively and is deposited on the delivery conveyor 12. A dofier brush 23 is mounted adjacent the third feed roll to doff the leather from the second feed roll and direct it onto the delivery conveyor 12. Side bars 25 are provided at each side of the delivery conveyor to protect the leather from fouling in the working mechanism.

As shown in Figs. and 6, a single motor 27 drives the feed rolls, the conveyor, the dusters, and the dofier. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the motor 27 is mounted exteriorly of the casing with its drive shaft 28 projecting into the interior of the casing 10. A sprocket 29 is mounted on the shaft 28 which drives a chain 31 which is trained over an idler sprocket 32, a sprocket 33 for the first duster, a sprocket 34 for the second duster, and a sprocket 35 for the doffer. Thus, the dusters and the doffer are driven in the directions indicated by the arrows in Fig. 4. As one example, we have found that a surface speed of 1600 feet per minute on the dusting brushes is satisfactory when the speed of the feed rolls is between 45 and 100 feet per minute. Preferably, the dofier brush speed is at least three times the surface speed of the feed rolls.

The sprocket 34 is connected to a shaft 37 which drives the second duster brush. At the opposite end of the shaft 37 (see Fig. 6), the shaft 37 mounts a pulley 38 which drives a variable speed device 39 through the belt 40. The output of the variable speed device 39 is regulated by a lever 41 which is adjustable by an adjusting shaft 42 terminating at its upper extremity in an adjusting handle 43. The variable speed device, in turn, drives a bottom shaft 43 by means of a chain and sprocket indicated at 44. The shaft 43 mounts the drive pulley 45 of the delivery conveyor 12. At its opposite end, the shaft 43 mounts a drive sprocket 46 which drives a drive chain 47. The chain 47 is trained over an idler pulley 48 which is biased outwardly of the chain as indicated at 49 in Fig. 5. The chain is then trained over a sprocket 51 for the first feed roll, a sprocket 52 for the second feed roll, and a sprocket 53 for the third feed roll. An idler sprocket 54 is biased inwardly into engagement with the chain 47 as indicated at 56. To insure proper operation of the feed roll drive when the apparatus is reversed, a stop pin 57 is mounted adjacent the idler sprocket 48 to limit its inward movement against the bias of the biasing means 49. As indicated above, the surface speed of the feed rolls and conveyor preferably ranges from 45 to 100 feet per minute.

In accordance with a feature of the invention, the second feed roll 14 is driven approximately 4% faster than the feed roll 13, and the roll is driven approximately 4% faster than the roll 14. As shown in Fig. 2. this differential in speed is accomplished by constructing the feed roll 14 with a slightly larger diameter than the feed roll 13, and the feed roll 15 with a larger diameter than the feed roll 14. By arranging the rolls in this manner, a pull is exerted on the leather between the first and second and second and third feed rolls which effectively irons out any wrinkles. It is noted that the spacing between the feed rolls only loosely engages the leather. In this manner, the rolls advance the leather through the machine when it is fed unconstrained into the machine. However, if the leather is held back, the feed rolls operate without advancing the leather through the machine. This is accomplished by mounting the rolls to provide a clearance therebetween which is slightly greater than the thickness of the leather being dusted. For example, the roll spacing may be 3%" for approximately A3 maximum thickness of leather.

In accordance with the invention, means is provided to carry away the dust brushed out of the leather by the first and second dusters 21 and 22. To this end, elongated exhaust ducts 61 and 62 are positioned adjacent the first and second dusters 21 and 22 respectively. The exhaust duct 61 has mounted thereon a hood 63 which surrounds the first duster 21 and the idler feed brush 18, as shown in Fig. 4. The nozzle opening of the exhaust duct 61 is disposed immediately adjacent the brush 21 to remove the dust therefrom. The exhaust duct 62 is provided with a hood 64 which envelops the second duster brush 22. The nozzle of the duct 62 is similar to the nozzle of the duct 61 and extends into close proximity to the brush 22. A relatively high inlet velocity is required at the nozzles. For example, it has been found that an entrance velocity of 1350 feet per minute was not entirely satisfactory, but velocities of 2000 or 2500 feet per minute provided satisfactory dust removal. The nozzles are preferably about two inches wide, which is sufficiently wide to eliminate any trouble from clogging with dust or dirt particles.

Means is provided to insure that the dust is dislodged from the dusters. The duster 21 is mounted so that its bristles engage against the second feed roll 14 and the idler brush 18. This causes the bristles to flex which effectively dislodges dust which might be entrapped therein. The engagement of the brush 21 with the roll 18 and the brush 14 also keeps the latter members clean and substantially dust-free. The brush 22 is positioned to engage against the third feed roll 15 which flexes the bristles of the second duster 22 and assists in the removal of dust lodged therein by the duct 62. The second duster also thereby maintains the third feed roll 15 clean and substantially dust-free.

Means is provided to adjust the position of the brushes and the feed rolls to compensate for wear. The brushes and feed rolls may also be adjusted when making a major change in the quality of the leather being processed. As shown in Fig. 6, the first duster is adjustable horizontally as indicated at 65 in Fig. 6. Likewise, the second duster is adjustable horizontally as indicated at 66. The first feed roll is adjustable vertically as indicated at 67 and the third feed roll 15 is adjustable horizontally as indicated at 68. The second feed roll 14 is mounted in fixed position as indicated at 69, as is the dolfer 23, as indicated at 70. As pointed out above, the idler feed brush 18 is free for vertical movement to be biased by gravity against the first feed roll 13.

It may prove desirable to provide a second brushing action for each surface of the leather. To this end, the apparatus may be modified as indicated schematically in Fig. 7. In this form of the invention, the leather is fed from a feed table 101 onto an apron conveyor 102. The leather is trained around a pulley 103 of the conveyor 102 where its upper surface is dusted by a rapidly rotating first duster brush 104. A first feed roll in the form of a brush 105 is positioned closely adjacent the conveyor 102 and the leather is trained thereabout as indicated in Fig. 7. It is noted that the feed brush 105 engages the duster brush 104 to assist in the dislodgement of dust particles from the bristles whereby the dust is free to be removed by an exhaust duct 106. As the leather travels on the feed brush 105, it is dusted by a second duster brush 107. The leather then passes onto a second feed roll 108 which is disposed closely adjacent the feed brush 105. The feed roll 108 also contacts the bristles of the brush 107 to assist in dislodging the dust particles therein to be carried away by the duct 109. As the leather travels around the feed roll 108, its upper surface is again brushed by the third duster brush 110 and is conveyed out of the machine by a fourth feed roll, again in the form of a brush 111. The feed brush 111 also engages the duster brush 110 so that the dust is free to be removed by the exhaust duct 112. As the leather travels on the feed brush 111, its under surface is again brushed by a fourth duster brush 114. A doifer is provided at 115 to strip the leather from the brush 111 and a cleaning brush 116 is provided to engage the duster brush 114 to assist in the removal of dust therefrom by the exhaust duct 117. The leather doffed from the roll 111 is carried out of the machine by a delivery conveyor 118. Preferably, the feed brush 105 is driven slightly faster than the pulley 103; the feed roll 108 is driven slightly faster than the feed brush 105; and the feed brush 111 is driven slightly faster than the feed roll 108. The dilferential in speed may be accomplished by constructing the feeding means with successively increasing diameter or may be accomplished by using successively smaller sprockets for driving the feed means.

While particular embodiments of the invention have been herein illustrated and described, it is not intended to limit the invention to the exact disclosure. For example, specific types of feed rolls have been described with reference to certain locations in the machine, but it is possible, for example, to employ feed brushes such as shown at 105 and 111 in place of the feed rollers without adversely affecting the operation of the machine. It is preferred to dispose the feed means in the staggered relation shown in order to reduce the distance between nips, but it is possible to dispose the successive feed rolls in vertical alignment or any other suitable arrangement. Likewise, separate drive means may be employed for the various elements of the machine without departure from the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a brushing machine for dusting pliable sheet-like material, a series of cylindrical feed rolls, adjacent rolls of said series being spaced apart a distance at least as great as the thickness of said material, means to drive said rolls to advance the material in a tortuous path around said rolls in the series and between adjacent rolls thereof, an idler cylindrical brush mounted adjacent the first roll of said series and biased into nipping engagement with the material on said first roll to frictionally engage the material with said first roll, a first duster brush confronting said first roll which exposes one surface of the material and projecting into engagement with the one surface of the material frictionally engaged on said first roll by said idler feed roll, means to rotate said brush to dust the one surface of the material, a second brush confronting a second of said rolls which exposes the opposite surface of the material and projecting into engagement with said opposite surface, means to rotate said second brush to dust the opposite surface of the material, and means forming air streams adjacent said brushes to carry away the dust brushed from the material.

2. In a brushing machine for dusting pliable sheet-like material, a series of cylindrical feed rolls, adjacent rolls of said series being spaced apart a distance at least as great as the thickness of said material, means to drive said rolls to advance the material in a tortuous path around said rolls in the series and between adjacent rolls thereof, a duster brush confronting one of said rolls which exposes one surface of the material, and projecting into engagement with the one surface of the material on said roll, means to rotate said brush to dust the one surface of the material, a second brush confronting a second of said rolls which exposes the opposite surface of the material, and projecting into engagement with the opposite surface, means to rotate said second brush to dust the opposite surface of the material, and means to form air streams adjacent said brushes to carry away the dust brushed from said material, at least one feed roll of said series comprising a cylindrical brush.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,151,826 Ruhe Aug. 31, 1915 1,288,064 Lewis Dec. 17, 1918 2,358,334 Knowlton Sept. 19, 1944 2,451,561 Knowlton et al. Oct. 19, 1948 2,482,781 Knowlton et al Sept. 27, 1949 2,515,223 Hollick July 18, 1950 2,664,731 Grifiin Jan. 5, 1954 2,666,317 Grifiin Jan. 19, 1954 

